The YSR Congress has demanded that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu dismiss Water Resources Development Minister D. Umamaheswara Rao from his Cabinet and order an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in irrigation works.
YSRC spokesperson Tammineni Sitaram said the Chief Minister’s close associate C.M. Ramesh had written an open letter detailing the irregularities in the irrigation works and release of funds. This was tantamount to misuse of public funds and the government should sack the Minister besides blacklisting the companies involved.
The alleged irregularities pertained to Owk reservoir works where the cost was escalated from Rs. 12 crore to Rs. 110 crore and funds were released accordingly. “Payment of Rs. 44 crore was in violation of the agreement and the government should take steps to check the irregularities immediately,” he said.
The main Opposition had been highlighting the irregularities from time to time and an important leader of the ruling party himself had exposed the lapses, he said.
